Statement by YABLOKO Press Office, 30.08.2016
At the moment the YABLOKO party has launched the most widespread election campaign in its history, the party has real chances to clear the 5 per cent threshold in the election of 18 September, and to win in several single-mandate constituencies. It is evident that the presence of real opposition in the next convocation of the State Duma does not meet the interests of the current government. Hence such technologies as black PR and the administrative resource are used against us.

Previously we reported about the smear campaign against YABLOKO in the Altai Territory and withdrawal of our lists of candidates from the elections to the regional parliaments of the Kursk, Orel, and Novgorod Regions (the list of candidates in the Novgorod Region was restored by the decision of the Central Election Commission). Representatives of spoiler parties, whose names do not say anything to anyone, libel us openly during live debates on television. Some TV channels show news items tarnishing YABLOKO.

It is quite likely that next time one of top-rated analytical TV programmes may declare us the “fifth column” [ed. a group that undermines a nation/army/structure from within]. On 29 August, a domain name, which can be easily confused with the domain name of a prominent Western foundation which was declared a “foreign agent” by the Russian government and does not conduct any activities on the territory of our country, was registered on the Internet. A clone of the foundation’s website is situated at the following URL with one exception: there is a false piece of news on the public support of YABLOKO’s election campaign on the part of the foundation on the false website.

It is remarkable that there was not a single attempt to hide the real origin of the website when is was registered – the Moscow address and telephone number of the domain name owner is given. A number of Internet resources used for conducting a media war in Eastern Ukraine have the same registration data.

This suggests that the website pursues a single goal: producing a negative media effect and providing screenshots for a news item tarnishing YABLOKO. Than the website may be deleted and the TV channel, which will have released the piece of news, will announce that an accidental mistake.

YABLOKO considers the forthcoming media provocation against the party as another proof that the course, that we have chosen, and the values and principles we adhere to are right, and also as a real prognostic of our success in the election race.

Ignat Kalinin

Head of YABLOKO’s Press Office